Muhoozi unveils statue honouring Benjamin Netanyahu's brother

Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has unveiled a statue honouring Yonatan Netanyahu, the elder brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was killed while leading the famed Entebbe hostage rescue 50 years ago.

Describing the operation as "one of the most significant episodes in modern history," Gen. Kainerugaba praised Yonatan Netanyahu's bravery during a ceremony outside the old Entebbe Airport terminal, where the 1976 raid took place.

The monument depicts the fallen Israeli commander striding forward with a machine gun.

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The crisis began when Palestinian and German hijackers seized an Air France flight travelling from Tel Aviv to Paris and diverted it to Entebbe, where they were welcomed by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.

On July 3, 1976, elite Israeli commandos launched a daring 90-minute nighttime raid that rescued more than 100 hostages.

Yonatan Netanyahu was the only Israeli soldier killed during the operation.

Three hostages died during the rescue, while a fourth was later murdered in a Kampala hospital on Amin's orders.

Seven hijackers and at least 45 Ugandan soldiers were also killed in the fighting.

Acknowledging the Ugandan soldiers who died, Gen. Kainerugaba said they fought for a cause they believed in, but stressed that Amin's brutal regime did not represent Uganda.

He added that the painful chapter in history ultimately laid the foundation for the strong diplomatic ties the two countries share today.

"May their memories continue to inspire future generations in the pursuit of peace, justice and human dignity," Muhoozi said.